tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post6896527786976657766..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: The word that dare not be spoken. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-37272177309886673422012-12-22T19:44:37.424-06:002012-12-22T19:44:37.424-06:00My point is that salvation cannot merely be runnin...My point is that salvation cannot merely be running from hell in fear and there are those who do a fine job preaching hell but do not preach the gospel so that there is something to run to as well Aaa from.Pastor Petersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-85719848193831588432012-12-22T12:50:18.556-06:002012-12-22T12:50:18.556-06:00Dear Rev. Peters:
You wrote, “I am saddened by th...Dear Rev. Peters:<br /><br />You wrote, “I am saddened by those who make hell into the motivation for bringing the good news of salvation to the world. Surely the Lord seeks a people moved not by fear but shaped by hope!” Do we not teach that the Law, including the reality of Hell, is what drives people to the Gospel through the work of the Holy Spirit? Is it not only after we become citizens of God’s Kingdom that we are shaped by hope and love? Romans 8: 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”<br /><br />As biblical as the good Monsignor may be, I think he gets it almost right when he writes, “It does not require an advanced degree in sociology to understand that, to remove the unambiguous biblical teaching on the very real and possible outcome of Hell, is to remove strong motivation to seek a Savior and salvation. It is therefore no surprise that as the teaching on Hell has been largely set aside by the modern world, that recourse to the sacraments, prayer, Church attendance and any number of spiritual remedies have suffered significant declines during the same period.” If he means that the people of God were driven “to the sacraments, prayer, Church attendance and any number of spiritual remedies” before Hell was set aside by the modern world, then he is proclaiming typical Roman Catholic doctrine that does not distinguish between Law and Gospel. If he means that fewer people are coming to faith in the Gospel because “the teaching on Hell has been largely set aside by the modern world” he may have a point. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit will find a way to bring every one of the Elect into His Kingdom. <br /><br />I suspect that, just to many Americans, to him the only thing that means anything is what happens in the United States. If things are different in the rest of the world, or other parts of the world, we don’t know about it, or dismiss it as being insignificant. Hell is much more believable to people who live in suffering and deprivation, than to us, who mostly live in affluence.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com